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Shawn Brummund: Hello,
friends, and welcome to another
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edition of the
"Sabbath School Study Hour."
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My name is Pastor Shawn
Brummund, and I'll be your host
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today as we continue to
study in a very enriching topic.
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It's our last study in "Rest
in Christ," and so I trust for
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those of you who have been
joining us from week to week
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over the last three months
have been enriched by this very
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important topic and that you
will be blessed, I know, as you
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have decided to join us over
the next hour as we continue to
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study and worship the Lord.
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And so we're in lesson number
13, which is the last lesson of
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this quarterly, and it's
entitled "The Ultimate Rest."
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And so, if you have your Sabbath
School quarterlies available,
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make sure that you go
and take advantage and grab
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that right now.
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And, of course, we're always
going to be able to need our
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Bible as we continue
to study together and open
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the Word as well.
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Our pastor, our youth pastor,
Pastor Luccas Rodor, will be our
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teacher here today.
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Before we invite our singers
out though, I'd want to invite
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everybody to--that is watching
today to take advantage of our
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free gift offer.
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And so each and every time that
we come together for study hour,
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we'd like to give something that
will continue to help you in
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your study of the Word.
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Now, this is one
of my favorite reads.
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It's entitled "Is
Sunday Really Sacred?"
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Very important question to ask
in regards to Bible truth and
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present truth and prophecy, for
that matter, and so please take
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advantage of
this little booklet.
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It's written by Joe Crews.
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It's free offer number 150.
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So if you do decide to dial in
to the number that you could see
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on the screen, it's
1-866-788-3966, and just ask for
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free offer number 150, and we'll
be glad to give that to you if
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you're in North America,
that is, in Canada or the U.S.,
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for that matter.
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And also you can get
a digital copy of this.
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And so, if you'd like to
download this on your computer
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or on your phone, on your phone
you just text the code "SH042,"
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and you want to be
able to dial that to 40544.
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And you can also see a website
that's available there on the
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screen as well if you want to
download that on your computer.
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Thank you, Pastor Rodor.
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Luccas Rodor: Happy Sabbath.
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It's good to see you
all and to be here with you.
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Just hearing that beautiful song
takes me back to when I used to
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go to church with my parents
as a child, and that was one of
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those songs that would
always resound with me.
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You know, I love that song,
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness," and
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that just reminds us
that we have a faithful God.
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We worship a faithful God.
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Friends, today is the
last Sabbath of this quarter.
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We have the last lesson here of
this quarter, and I don't know
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about you, but it has been
an extreme blessing to study the
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subject of "Rest
in Christ," right?
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Just studying and learning more
about how we can rest, truly
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rest in God and in ways that
transcend even just the Sabbath.
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I mean, usually when you talk
about rest, we--our mind jumps
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straight to
Sabbath, but "Rest in God,"
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it transcends even that.
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It goes beyond just hours of the
Sabbath, and if we understand
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this correctly, "rest" in
the Bible is our lifestyle.
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It's a lifestyle
of resting in God.
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So this lesson has been just a
blessing, and this week's lesson
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has been just--it's just
been this deep remembrance and
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reaffirmation of everything
that we've seen so far.
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The lesson begins
with the great controversy.
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The lesson's teaching this week,
it begins with an approach of
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what has been
going on in our world for
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the last few millennia.
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You see, friends, the entire
universe has been immersed in a
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moral conflict that has affected
everyone, everyone in the
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universe, the unfallen
worlds, the angels, God.
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Everyone has been affected
by this great controversy, this
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great conflict.
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The infinite and the eternal God
was also involved in this, by
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this invasive force of evil.
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You don't have to go very
far to realize it to see it.
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I mean, just turn on the news,
and you see all the bad things
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that are happening in the world:
the wars, the political unrest,
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the social unrest.
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Just look at yourself. We
don't have to go very far.
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Just look within, and we see the
results of this conflict in our
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own lives.
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The infinite and eternal God was
involved by the invasive forces
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of evil.
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Doubt was cast.
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Mistrust was sown.
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Malice, deceit, a conflict
of formidable proportions began,
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and this, years ago, in the
brilliant paradise of heaven.
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The enemy we know, he employs
the weapons that he wields with
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extreme mastery,
lies, and deceit.
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I mean, when we study the book
of Revelation and the lesson, it
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mentions the subject, and we're
going to get into it a little
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bit more profoundly as we go
through the different days of
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this week's lesson, but
Revelation itself reveals to us
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that the tail of the
dragon, what does it represent?
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Lies, deceit.
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The conflict began in paradise,
in heaven, in God's paradise,
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and then it was
extended to our small planet.
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You know, according to Jesus,
the enemy--and this is a big
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thing in our world today where
several different voices try to
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make our enemy sound as this
impersonal force, as an energy,
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as a myth, a legend, but
according to Jesus, the enemy is
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not a myth.
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He's not a legend.
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He's not an impersonal force.
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In Luke 10, verse 18, we
find Jesus saying that He saw--
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"I saw Satan fall like
lightning from heaven."
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He saw him come down.
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In the book of Revelation,
the scene is no less dramatic.
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Revelation 12, verse 7, a verse
that we all know pretty much by
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heart, "There
was a war in heaven.
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War broke out in heaven.
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Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon, and the
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dragon and his angels
also fought, but they did not
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prevail, nor was their place
found with them--or for them in
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heaven any longer.
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So the great dragon was cast
out, that serpent of old, called
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the devil, and Satan--" curious
that these words, they mean
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literally "the
accuser" and "the contender."
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And that is really the best
description for our enemy, the
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one that accuses and the
one that contends, the one that
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fights-- "who
deceives the whole world.
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He was cast to the
earth, and his angels
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were cast down with him."
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Friends, the satanic ideals that
appeared for the first time in
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heaven--mysteriously, you know,
theology--and I've said this
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here a few times
before--theology recognizes
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three great mysteries.
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Of course, there are many.
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There are many mysteries that
we come to in the Bible, but in
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theology, you'll find three
classic mysteries: the mystery
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of piety, the mystery of
the incarnation, and the mystery
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of iniquity.
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These ideals that mysteriously
were conceived in heaven, in the
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heart of a powerful cherub,
they didn't develop further
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over there.
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They moved.
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They changed their zip code, and
they came down to our world with
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tragic consequences.
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Revelation 12:10 and 12, say,
"Then I heard a loud voice in
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heaven saying, 'Now salvation,
and strength, and the kingdom of
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our God, and the power of
His Christ have come, for the
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accuser of our brethren, who
accused them before our God, day
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and night, has been cast down.'"
And then, verse 12, "Therefore
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rejoice, O heavens,
and you who dwell in them."
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Good until that point, right?
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But then look at this next part:
"Woe to the inhabitants of the
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earth and the sea.
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For the devil has come down to
you, having great wrath, because
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he knows that
his time is short."
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Imagine John the revelator
seeing all this and hearing
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this, how clear it
must've been at that time.
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"Oh, so this is
what's been going on."
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All the imagery, all the signs,
the symbols that he's seeing in
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this vision being given to him.
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This harrowing description
indicates that our small world
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became the center stage,
the main place of a massive
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deception.
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The enemy's primary strategy and
effort is to seduce, to deceive.
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I mean, look at everything
in our world, friends.
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Look at media.
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Look at society.
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Look at what the ideals, the
virtues are pushed down on human
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beings.
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Where's our self-worth?
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To the world, it's in
money. It's in things.
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It's in diplomas
perhaps, in a house, a car,
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a bank account, fame.
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In his efforts,
no weapon is spared.
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No scruples observed.
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Each inhabitant of
this planet is involved.
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You're involved.
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If there's something that you
need to understand, friend, is
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that, when it comes to this
great controversy, when it comes
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to this battle, there is
no way for you to opt out.
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We're all involved.
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One way or the
other, we are all involved.
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There are no spectators here.
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There's no audience here.
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We're all involved.
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We're all on the stage.
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And that's why one of
Jesus's greatest virtues and
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capabilities in Scripture,
you'll find Jesus, in the
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gospels, having this great
ability of removing people from
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the audience and placing them on
the stage or at least revealing
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to them that they were on a
stage, for them to think better,
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for them to understand better,
for them to know and see that
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they were involved, that
there's no way to opt out.
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Deceit, lies, pain, all
sorts of low blows, abuses and
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mischaracterizations have made
the human race personas of this
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evil plot and object
of Satan's evil wrath.
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His motivation is personal.
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Did you know that?
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His motivation is personal.
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The Bible tells us that he
knows that his time is short.
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He has little time.
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He's desperate.
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His aim has always been to
cause God pain by destroying,
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perverting, mocking,
deriding, and dehumanizing
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God's creatures.
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"How long, O Lord?"
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has been the prayer that rises
up from distressed hearts that
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hopefully await the final
resolution of this great plot,
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of this great drama.
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So what we've done so far
is create an environment to
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understand the
context of the lesson, right?
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Here we have the problem.
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The world has been
immersed, submerged
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into this great controversy.
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All of us are affected at home,
at work, at school, at church.
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We are all affected 24/7.
00:12:05.12\00:12:08.16
There is no way, there is no
moment, there is no place where,
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in one way or the other, you
are not affected by this great
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controversy, by this great war.
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In fact, you're here right
now because of this great war.
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You study your
lesson to prepare yourself.
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You read the Bible. You pray.
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You witness.
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That's part of
this week's lesson too.
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We are all here because we've
been involved in this battle.
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You, sitting down, me up here
speaking, you at home, watching,
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you are involved in this planet.
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Sunday's lesson is beautiful.
00:12:40.19\00:12:42.42
It's entitled "A Vision of the
End," and it emphasizes various
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scenes of the great controversy.
00:12:46.56\00:12:48.00
Here we see the authors of
the lesson going and emphasizing
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various scenes of
the great controversy.
00:12:51.27\00:12:54.47
In the book of the Revelation of
Jesus Christ--and never forget
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this, all right?
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The full name of the book, The
Revelation of Jesus Christ--we
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find the summary and the
climax of the Bible as a whole.
00:13:03.21\00:13:07.18
Talvin White--in Revelation,
all the books of the Bible
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converge.
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Everything makes sense,
from the book of Revelation.
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That's why the study of
this book is so important.
00:13:16.09\00:13:18.19
That's why we emphasize it so
much here at this church because
00:13:18.23\00:13:21.23
all the books of the
Bible converge in Revelation.
00:13:21.26\00:13:25.13
It's there, after all, that the
old serpent is finally unmasked
00:13:25.17\00:13:28.10
as the devil.
00:13:28.14\00:13:30.87
Chapter 12, verse 9, "So the
great dragon was cast out, the
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serpent of old, called the
devil, who deceives the whole
00:13:33.74\00:13:36.18
world.
00:13:36.21\00:13:37.58
He was cast to the earth, and
his angels were cast out with
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him."
00:13:39.51\00:13:41.02
He is explicitly, openly,
unmistakenly revealed and
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exposed here.
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Friends, this book of Revelation
was written to be understood.
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That's another big thing
that we have to understand.
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Most of the times, most of the
people will say that they kind
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of steer clear from Revelation.
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Has anyone here ever
gone through that experience?
00:13:58.80\00:14:01.50
Either you in your earlier days
as a Christian or maybe right
00:14:01.54\00:14:05.31
now, if you're coming right now,
or perhaps you've heard this
00:14:05.34\00:14:08.11
from someone else, but the book
of Revelation can be kind of
00:14:08.14\00:14:10.71
scary to a lot of people.
00:14:10.75\00:14:13.52
It's not meant to be.
00:14:13.55\00:14:14.78
It's not supposed to be, but
a lot of people kind of fear it,
00:14:14.82\00:14:18.42
but it was meant
to be understood.
00:14:18.45\00:14:20.39
As we find in its very beginning
in verse 3, chapter 1, verse 3,
00:14:20.42\00:14:23.56
"Blessed is he who reads
and who hears the words of this
00:14:23.59\00:14:29.06
prophecy."
00:14:29.10\00:14:30.50
And this is in contrast to the
book of Daniel that was told to
00:14:30.53\00:14:33.03
be sealed up until
the time of the end.
00:14:33.07\00:14:35.50
You remember how, in Daniel, God
tells him, "Look, Daniel, this
00:14:35.54\00:14:38.04
isn't for you.
00:14:38.07\00:14:39.37
You're not really going
to understand it right now.
00:14:39.41\00:14:40.71
Seal up this book
till the time of the end."
00:14:40.74\00:14:42.18
But in contrast to that,
Revelation, the instruction we
00:14:42.21\00:14:46.58
find is "Do not seal the words
of the prophecy of this book,
00:14:46.61\00:14:50.05
for the time is at hand."
00:14:50.09\00:14:52.22
This book was
meant to be understood.
00:14:52.25\00:14:54.76
The word "revelation" itself,
it's a Latin word "revelati,"
00:14:54.79\00:14:59.26
but it comes from the Greek, the
biblical Greek, "apocalypse" or
00:14:59.29\00:15:02.36
"apokalypsis," which means "to
remove the veil of the future,"
00:15:02.40\00:15:08.10
an exposition of the
final events as an ending to the
00:15:08.14\00:15:11.37
conflict that has
dragged on for so long.
00:15:11.41\00:15:14.98
The symbols of this book are
extracted from the pages of the
00:15:15.01\00:15:19.28
Old Testament.
00:15:19.31\00:15:20.85
Almost entirely of the 404
verses of Revelation, do you
00:15:20.88\00:15:24.52
know how many contain direct or
indirect references to the Old
00:15:24.55\00:15:30.03
Testament?
00:15:30.06\00:15:31.66
Two hundred and seventy-eight.
00:15:31.69\00:15:33.40
Of the 404 verses, 278 contain
either direct or indirect
00:15:33.43\00:15:39.80
references or
allusions to the Old Testament.
00:15:39.83\00:15:43.57
I'll give you an example.
00:15:43.61\00:15:45.11
In the chapters, in the
scenes of chapter 4 and 5 of
00:15:45.14\00:15:47.84
Revelation, it's based entirely
on the coronation of Israelite
00:15:47.88\00:15:51.51
kings.
00:15:51.55\00:15:53.65
You can find this more
thoroughly if you want and if
00:15:53.68\00:15:56.75
you study Deuteronomy 17,
or then, 2 Kings chapter 11.
00:15:56.79\00:15:58.92
You'll see that that is the
wording that you find here in
00:15:58.95\00:16:01.39
Revelation chapter 4 and 5.
00:16:01.42\00:16:04.56
The curses of the
covenant, you see that also.
00:16:04.59\00:16:07.30
You'll find
that in Leviticus 26.
00:16:07.30\00:16:09.53
Those are the backdrop of
the vision of the seven seals.
00:16:09.56\00:16:13.30
The 144,000 upon the sea of
glass, singing the song of--who?
00:16:13.34\00:16:19.11
Moses and the Lamb.
00:16:19.14\00:16:20.81
They reflect Exodus chapter 15.
00:16:20.84\00:16:22.91
And after all, what is, friends,
a sea of glass mingled with
00:16:22.94\00:16:27.28
fire, if not a reference to
another Red Sea, indicating the
00:16:27.32\00:16:33.79
final victory in this
new Exodus for God's people?
00:16:33.82\00:16:37.83
Do you see?
00:16:37.86\00:16:39.26
Do you see how you'll
find the book of Revelation?
00:16:39.29\00:16:41.76
It's quoting the Old Testament.
00:16:41.80\00:16:44.20
It's in reference
to the Old Testament.
00:16:44.23\00:16:45.67
That's why you got to
know the Old Testament.
00:16:45.70\00:16:47.80
This is what the lesson is
teaching us here on Monday.
00:16:47.84\00:16:50.91
The plagues of Revelation
chapter 15 and 16, are a clear
00:16:50.94\00:16:55.18
reference to what other
plagues you find in the Bible?
00:16:55.21\00:16:58.21
The plagues of Exodus.
00:16:58.25\00:16:59.88
The plagues in Egypt for
God's overwhelming victory over
00:16:59.91\00:17:03.52
Pharaoh.
00:17:03.55\00:17:05.25
The scenes of Revelation chapter
16 through 18 are built upon the
00:17:05.29\00:17:08.06
historic victory of Cyrus
and his armies, who dried up the
00:17:08.09\00:17:11.13
Euphrates in order
to conquer Babylon.
00:17:11.16\00:17:14.36
The end-time
Babylon will also fall.
00:17:14.36\00:17:17.53
Is there any doubt of that?
00:17:17.57\00:17:20.54
But now, by the actions of
Jesus, for whom Cyrus was a
00:17:20.57\00:17:23.71
type, the trumpets, the locusts
from the pit, Sodom, Egypt,
00:17:23.74\00:17:28.81
Mount Zion, Babylon,
the Euphrates, the Battle of
00:17:28.84\00:17:32.08
Armageddon, all of these, all
of this imagery, all of these
00:17:32.11\00:17:35.12
symbolisms are extracted from
the history of Israel in the Old
00:17:35.15\00:17:38.95
Testament, and so to communicate
His will and His plans for the
00:17:38.99\00:17:42.36
future of His people, God
uses the language of the past.
00:17:42.39\00:17:46.23
In fact, friends, the prophecies
of Revelation are built on the
00:17:46.26\00:17:49.30
biggest--or built upon
the biggest events of sacred
00:17:49.33\00:17:52.73
history: the Creation, the
flood, the Sabbath, the exodus,
00:17:52.77\00:17:58.14
the plagues, the
covenant, the Babylonian exile.
00:17:58.17\00:18:01.68
The references, the use of these
events are intended to edify our
00:18:01.71\00:18:08.15
faith based on God's redemptive
acts of the past because here's
00:18:08.18\00:18:12.82
the thing: If I know that God
has already done this and this
00:18:12.85\00:18:15.66
and this in the past, well,
won't I know that He will also
00:18:15.69\00:18:19.23
do this and this and
this and this in the future?
00:18:19.26\00:18:21.76
The same God that opened the Red
Sea, the same God that made the
00:18:21.80\00:18:25.07
sun stop in the sky, the same
God that made an ax head float
00:18:25.10\00:18:29.30
is the same God that will lead
us through this period of time
00:18:29.34\00:18:33.11
that we're living in right now.
00:18:33.14\00:18:35.04
That is the crux of
the book of Revelation.
00:18:35.08\00:18:38.85
It's to give you with absolute
certainty that the same God that
00:18:38.88\00:18:42.65
led the children of Israel, that
led the first century church, He
00:18:42.68\00:18:45.75
is the same today, right here,
right now, and He can get you
00:18:45.79\00:18:49.59
through your Exodus also.
00:18:49.62\00:18:54.40
His interventions in the future
will be similar to those of the
00:18:54.46\00:18:56.53
past.
00:18:56.56\00:18:58.33
That is the guarantee.
00:18:58.37\00:19:00.57
His power is never extinguished.
00:19:00.60\00:19:03.87
It's never over.
00:19:03.91\00:19:07.51
It never expires.
00:19:07.54\00:19:09.38
The great lesson, friends, of
Revelation is that God punishes
00:19:09.41\00:19:12.48
the oppressor, and
He frees the captive.
00:19:12.51\00:19:15.05
Nothing, absolutely nothing
can stop Him from doing what He
00:19:15.08\00:19:18.62
intends to do--nothing.
00:19:18.65\00:19:22.49
What He has already done is the
guarantee of what He is yet to
00:19:22.52\00:19:24.89
do, and that's why we can rest.
00:19:24.93\00:19:30.20
That is why we can rest the
ultimate rest because our future
00:19:30.23\00:19:36.17
is in good hands.
00:19:36.20\00:19:37.87
Look at what the lesson says.
00:19:37.91\00:19:39.41
This is in the lesson of Sunday:
"What followed from these
00:19:39.44\00:19:42.78
verses," Revelation 1:9, "are
visions about the future of this
00:19:42.81\00:19:46.78
world.
00:19:46.82\00:19:48.25
An awesome panoramic view
of history would be portrayed
00:19:48.28\00:19:50.95
before him, basically what's to
us the history of the Christian
00:19:50.99\00:19:54.12
church but was to
him yet the future."
00:19:54.16\00:19:56.66
It's talking about John.
00:19:56.69\00:19:58.53
"And, yet amid the trials and
tribulations that would come,
00:19:58.56\00:20:01.06
John was shown
how it all would end.
00:20:01.10\00:20:04.17
'Now I saw a new heaven and a
new earth, for the first heaven
00:20:04.20\00:20:06.84
and the first
earth had passed away.
00:20:06.87\00:20:08.57
Also there was no more sea.
00:20:08.60\00:20:10.47
Then I, John, saw the holy city,
the New Jerusalem, coming down
00:20:10.51\00:20:13.17
from heaven from God, prepared
as a bride adorned for her
00:20:13.21\00:20:15.84
husband.' The great apocalyptic
vision John has recorded in
00:20:15.88\00:20:19.01
Revelation helped John
confidently to rest in God's
00:20:19.05\00:20:22.72
provisions and promises."
00:20:22.75\00:20:25.19
And it could do
the same for you.
00:20:25.22\00:20:27.52
It can do the same for us
because I'll tell you, friends,
00:20:27.56\00:20:30.16
we're living
some very dark days.
00:20:30.19\00:20:35.23
On Monday, "The Countdown."
00:20:35.26\00:20:37.97
The lesson continues on this day
to go back through other events
00:20:38.00\00:20:41.60
of sacred history described in
Matthew 24, and in the book of
00:20:41.64\00:20:44.37
Daniel.
00:20:44.41\00:20:46.07
And this provides more insight
into how God dealt and deals
00:20:46.11\00:20:49.24
with the great controversy
because this is a great
00:20:49.28\00:20:51.41
question: "How can I rest
if I'm in this controversy?
00:20:51.45\00:20:54.38
How can I rest if there's wars,
if people are divided, if people
00:20:54.42\00:20:57.45
seem to hate each other, if the
worlds are already throwing up
00:20:57.49\00:21:00.12
its demons to say that things
are not going well, how do I
00:21:00.16\00:21:04.16
rest?"
00:21:04.19\00:21:06.16
Look back.
00:21:06.19\00:21:08.20
That's what the
lesson is doing on this day.
00:21:08.23\00:21:09.70
"On the Mount of Olives,
Jesus answers His disciples'
00:21:09.73\00:21:12.93
question."
00:21:12.97\00:21:14.30
And I can imagine these men just
terrified at the prospect of
00:21:14.34\00:21:17.37
what Jesus is talking about
because they ask Him, Matthew
00:21:17.41\00:21:21.11
24, verse 3, they say,
"When will these things be?
00:21:21.14\00:21:24.28
When will it come to pass?
00:21:24.31\00:21:25.71
And what will be the sign of
Your coming and the end of age?"
00:21:25.75\00:21:29.08
Well, then Jesus provides a
great apocalyptic exposition,
00:21:29.12\00:21:32.29
and that's the famous sermon
that we find here in Matthew 24,
00:21:32.32\00:21:36.39
a timeline that covers the
events of His days, all the way
00:21:36.42\00:21:40.33
down to the very
consummation of time.
00:21:40.36\00:21:44.90
One thing that we have to keep
in mind--and the reason why God
00:21:44.93\00:21:47.27
is doing this--is found in the
truth revealed in Amos chapter
00:21:47.30\00:21:49.84
3, verse 7.
00:21:49.87\00:21:51.34
Again, it's a verse that
a lot of us know by heart.
00:21:51.37\00:21:53.54
It says, "Surely the Lord God
does nothing unless He reveals
00:21:53.58\00:21:57.38
His secret to His
servants, the prophets."
00:21:57.41\00:22:01.42
You see, friends, contrary to
the pagan gods, to the mystery
00:22:01.45\00:22:04.52
religions, because that's how
they operated--the MO of those
00:22:04.55\00:22:07.39
pagan gods is that
they would act in secret.
00:22:07.42\00:22:10.53
No one knew
what they were doing.
00:22:10.56\00:22:12.26
So contrary to them, the God
of heaven, the only true God, He
00:22:12.29\00:22:16.70
reveals Himself.
00:22:16.73\00:22:18.57
He is transparent.
00:22:18.60\00:22:20.20
I mean, isn't that one of the
great things in the world today,
00:22:20.24\00:22:21.77
the lack of transparency?
00:22:21.80\00:22:23.24
You never know what's
going on in someone's mind.
00:22:23.27\00:22:25.24
You never know what's going
on, be that your boss, your
00:22:25.27\00:22:27.58
employee, be that
at church or churches.
00:22:27.61\00:22:30.11
You never know people.
00:22:30.15\00:22:31.68
It seems
they're not transparent.
00:22:31.71\00:22:33.98
The God of the Bible
is painfully transparent
00:22:34.02\00:22:36.95
sometimes--sometimes painfully.
00:22:36.99\00:22:39.25
Always transparent.
00:22:39.29\00:22:42.06
He lets us know what's going on.
00:22:42.09\00:22:45.03
You know, we frequently
hear of "bearers of new light."
00:22:45.06\00:22:48.10
Have you ever been around
someone like that, someone that
00:22:48.13\00:22:49.60
comes along with the most
fantastical new idea or new
00:22:49.63\00:22:52.77
theory?
00:22:52.80\00:22:55.14
People trying to sell their
ideas that usually go beyond the
00:22:55.17\00:22:59.04
clear, "Thus saith the Lord"?
00:22:59.07\00:23:02.28
This was also foretold by Jesus
because, in Matthew 24:4-5, He
00:23:02.31\00:23:06.08
says, "See that
you're not deceived.
00:23:06.11\00:23:08.88
Many will come in My name."
00:23:08.92\00:23:10.65
Friends, everything that we need
to know is already revealed.
00:23:10.69\00:23:14.39
We don't need any
weird, wacky theories.
00:23:14.42\00:23:19.79
We don't need any imaginations
or fantastic calculations or
00:23:19.83\00:23:22.90
mental gymnastics.
00:23:22.93\00:23:24.47
We don't need people trying
to tell us that Jesus is coming
00:23:24.50\00:23:28.40
back in five years, seven years.
00:23:28.44\00:23:30.24
He's coming back at the end
of this--we don't need that.
00:23:30.27\00:23:32.61
Our church, more than any other,
should know the dangers of that
00:23:32.64\00:23:35.11
kind of mentality.
00:23:35.14\00:23:37.91
Our great need is not to know
fantastic speculations but to
00:23:37.95\00:23:41.42
accept, believe, and live what
has been revealed in Scripture.
00:23:41.45\00:23:47.96
What we need to know, friends,
doesn't involve imagination but
00:23:47.99\00:23:50.89
serious applied study.
00:23:50.93\00:23:52.86
That's why it's
important to study.
00:23:52.89\00:23:54.50
And there's a reason for this.
00:23:54.56\00:23:56.70
The reason is that we're
not meant to sit idly by, just
00:23:56.73\00:24:00.94
coming up with weird theories
as to what happens next.
00:24:00.97\00:24:04.37
You know, usually when I
encounter people that are like
00:24:04.41\00:24:06.84
that or, you know, groups that
are like that, people that kind
00:24:06.88\00:24:10.45
of go around, you know, "Well,
this is going to happen then.
00:24:10.48\00:24:12.48
This is going to--" it's kind of
like, you know, they have their
00:24:12.51\00:24:14.78
crystal hat on their head,
and usually I see that--when it
00:24:14.82\00:24:19.72
comes to groups like
that, they're not doing a lot of
00:24:19.75\00:24:21.56
missionary work.
00:24:21.59\00:24:23.96
It's just a whole bunch of
sitting around, talking about
00:24:23.99\00:24:25.79
weird theories that really
you can't argue with because you
00:24:25.83\00:24:29.26
can't argue with
the lack of logic.
00:24:29.30\00:24:33.90
But that's what I usually find.
00:24:33.94\00:24:35.40
They're not doing a whole lot
of missionary work, and that's
00:24:35.44\00:24:37.41
precisely where the lesson leads
us to because the very next day,
00:24:37.44\00:24:41.98
it's called "Marching Orders."
00:24:42.01\00:24:44.58
On Monday's lesson, it ends with
"In this cosmic conflict, we are
00:24:44.61\00:24:47.88
more than just observers."
00:24:47.92\00:24:49.88
You're not just an
observer or spectator.
00:24:49.92\00:24:52.19
"We are to be active
participants in spreading the
00:24:52.22\00:24:54.89
gospel to the ends of the world,
which means that we, too, will
00:24:54.92\00:24:58.56
face persecution."
00:24:58.59\00:25:02.10
"Marching Orders."
00:25:02.13\00:25:03.80
That's what
Tuesday is all about.
00:25:03.83\00:25:05.53
Well, we learned that the
depiction of the events given by
00:25:05.57\00:25:08.80
Jesus that will soon take place
on this planet forbids us from
00:25:08.84\00:25:13.24
being idle, from being
indifferent, or from being mere
00:25:13.27\00:25:17.18
curious spectators.
00:25:17.21\00:25:19.05
You can't. You
cannot be a Christian.
00:25:19.08\00:25:20.98
Every Christian is born in the
kingdom of God as an evangelist,
00:25:21.02\00:25:25.72
as a missionary.
00:25:25.75\00:25:27.82
So the question is "Have you
been born in the kingdom of God,
00:25:27.86\00:25:30.53
in the kingdom of heaven?"
00:25:30.56\00:25:32.03
If you say, "Yes," praise the
Lord but know that you should be
00:25:32.06\00:25:35.00
born as a missionary and
as an evangelist, and if you
00:25:35.03\00:25:37.77
haven't--and I'm not saying that
you have to go up and preach.
00:25:37.80\00:25:40.00
You don't have to do
what, you know, preachers do.
00:25:40.04\00:25:42.07
Or maybe you don't have the gift
of singing, or maybe--you know,
00:25:42.10\00:25:45.21
find your gift.
00:25:45.24\00:25:46.57
There are so many ways that God
can use you to be an evangelist,
00:25:46.61\00:25:50.05
to be a missionary,
but you need to be one.
00:25:50.08\00:25:57.32
Friends, the world has
been consumed by the "audience
00:25:57.35\00:25:59.69
mentality," the
mentality of the audience.
00:25:59.72\00:26:03.63
TV, Internet, sporting
entertainment, all of these
00:26:03.66\00:26:07.30
things, they're extremely
proficient teachers that educate
00:26:07.36\00:26:11.87
multitudes, multitudes, millions
to only passively observe what
00:26:11.90\00:26:17.94
the few do.
00:26:17.97\00:26:19.97
You'll have hundreds of
thousands of people seeing and
00:26:20.01\00:26:22.18
watching and observing and
commenting and coming up with
00:26:22.21\00:26:24.48
theories as to what the 10
people or the 20 people on the
00:26:24.51\00:26:27.55
field are doing.
00:26:27.58\00:26:30.12
And that conditions these
audience towards alienation.
00:26:30.15\00:26:33.49
So many of us have been educated
to take on this audience
00:26:33.52\00:26:36.42
mind-set:
distant, cold, alienated.
00:26:36.46\00:26:39.73
On the best of chances,
people like that become fans.
00:26:39.76\00:26:44.30
The question is "What is God's
plan for those who are living in
00:26:44.33\00:26:47.40
the times of the end?
00:26:47.44\00:26:49.64
What is God's plan
for us living today?
00:26:49.67\00:26:53.14
For you?
00:26:53.17\00:26:54.51
Because he has one for you.
00:26:54.54\00:26:56.88
You're not meant to sit
in the middle of nowhere,
00:26:56.91\00:26:58.65
doing nothing.
00:26:58.68\00:27:00.55
At this point in history,
friends, we're not at the point
00:27:00.58\00:27:04.05
where we should
be running off yet.
00:27:04.09\00:27:06.49
The cities need us.
00:27:06.52\00:27:07.82
People need us.
00:27:07.86\00:27:10.19
The world is dark.
00:27:10.23\00:27:11.83
The world is sad.
The world is lonely.
00:27:11.86\00:27:15.36
The world is
terrified, and billions perish.
00:27:15.40\00:27:23.34
We're called to be a light
in the dark, but how can we be
00:27:23.37\00:27:27.31
a light if we're just
spectating, just an audience?
00:27:27.34\00:27:33.88
Friends, God's Great Commission
cannot become the great omission
00:27:33.92\00:27:38.92
in your life.
00:27:38.95\00:27:41.66
As Revelation 14 describes it,
three angels' messages, as an
00:27:41.69\00:27:45.06
invitation to act, to jump into
the action, to warn others, at
00:27:45.09\00:27:49.26
this point in history, as I've
already said, our purpose our
00:27:49.30\00:27:52.53
marching orders are
defined by God Himself.
00:27:52.57\00:27:56.97
According to Jesus, those living
in Noah's time, in Noah's days,
00:27:57.01\00:28:00.38
they occupied themselves
with the periphery of life, even
00:28:00.41\00:28:07.25
though they were living on
the cusp of a great emergency.
00:28:07.28\00:28:11.52
Eating, drinking, buying,
selling, marrying, and giving in
00:28:11.55\00:28:14.76
marriage--you know what's
curious is that Jesus doesn't
00:28:14.79\00:28:17.33
mention the great
sins of those times.
00:28:17.36\00:28:19.16
He's not talking about
murderers, about drunkenness.
00:28:19.19\00:28:21.76
That's not what
he's talking about.
00:28:21.80\00:28:23.33
He's talking about normal thing:
eating, drinking, working,
00:28:23.37\00:28:26.07
planting,
reaping, sowing, marrying.
00:28:26.10\00:28:31.37
Why?
00:28:31.41\00:28:33.27
Why does he mention
these legitimate things?
00:28:33.31\00:28:35.51
What's the
problem with these things?
00:28:35.54\00:28:37.15
You know what's the
problem? Indifference.
00:28:37.18\00:28:40.72
Not recognizing what was
truly important, especially
00:28:40.75\00:28:43.15
in the context of eternity.
00:28:43.18\00:28:46.15
The disciples of Jesus
are taught by Him to establish
00:28:46.19\00:28:49.02
correct priorities.
00:28:49.06\00:28:51.13
We are challenged to relate
to the world appropriately.
00:28:51.16\00:28:53.76
Friends, what's sinful here,
it's not really practicing those
00:28:53.80\00:28:57.07
activities, eating, drinking.
00:28:57.10\00:28:58.83
You know, the world
has always been bad.
00:28:58.87\00:29:01.17
It's always had sins.
00:29:01.20\00:29:03.07
It's not particularly
worse than it's been
00:29:03.10\00:29:05.64
in any other point in time.
00:29:05.67\00:29:08.68
The world's always been bad,
but what marks this time, what
00:29:08.71\00:29:12.51
characterizes the time that we
live in is that people nowadays
00:29:12.55\00:29:15.28
are more indifferent.
00:29:15.32\00:29:17.32
They're cold.
They're untouchable.
00:29:17.35\00:29:20.46
You know that the contrary
to love, the opposite of love,
00:29:20.49\00:29:23.46
it's not really hatred.
00:29:23.49\00:29:26.43
It's indifference.
00:29:26.46\00:29:27.76
It's not caring.
00:29:27.76\00:29:32.23
And, friends, many, many
today--and, look, preaching to
00:29:32.27\00:29:35.20
the choir here.
00:29:35.24\00:29:36.84
Many of us cannot live a life of
ultimate rest--how could we--if
00:29:36.87\00:29:42.51
we're
indifferent, if we don't care?
00:29:42.54\00:29:47.78
Sometimes it comes up.
00:29:47.82\00:29:49.48
We are like that sometimes as a
mechanism of defense, a defense
00:29:49.52\00:29:51.92
mechanism.
00:29:51.95\00:29:53.25
We've been treated so badly,
we've been deceived in the past,
00:29:53.29\00:29:55.86
we've been hurt so badly, but,
friends, the disciples of Christ
00:29:55.89\00:29:59.59
don't look back.
00:29:59.63\00:30:01.83
They open themselves up to
a world that is needing them.
00:30:01.86\00:30:06.74
We have the
privilege of being used by God.
00:30:06.77\00:30:09.94
How should the disciples of
Jesus relate to the world around
00:30:09.97\00:30:12.47
them in the last days?
00:30:12.51\00:30:14.68
Well, read Revelation 14:6-12.
00:30:14.71\00:30:16.85
Look at what it says: "Then I
saw another angel flying in the
00:30:16.88\00:30:19.91
midst of heaven, having the
eternal, the everlasting gospel
00:30:19.95\00:30:23.42
to preach to those who dwell
on the earth, to every nation,
00:30:23.45\00:30:26.45
tribe, tongue, and people,
saying with a loud voice, 'Fear
00:30:26.49\00:30:30.33
God and give glory to Him,
for the hour of His judgment has
00:30:30.36\00:30:33.76
come, and worship Him who made
the heaven and the earth, the
00:30:33.80\00:30:36.63
sea and springs of water.' And
another angel followed, saying,
00:30:36.67\00:30:38.50
'Babylon is fallen, is fallen,
the great city, because she has
00:30:38.53\00:30:42.87
made all nations drink of
the wine of the wrath of her
00:30:42.90\00:30:46.21
fornication.' Then a third angel
followed them, saying with a
00:30:46.24\00:30:47.84
loud voice, 'If anyone worships
the beast and his image, and
00:30:47.88\00:30:50.28
receives his mark on his
forehead or on his hand, he
00:30:50.31\00:30:52.71
himself shall also drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which
00:30:52.75\00:30:56.32
is poured out full strength
into the cup of His indignation.
00:30:56.35\00:30:59.32
He shall be tormented with fire
and brimstone in the presence of
00:30:59.35\00:31:01.76
the holy angels and in
the presence of the Lamb.
00:31:01.79\00:31:04.16
And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever, and
00:31:04.19\00:31:06.53
they have no rest day or night,
who worship the beast and his
00:31:06.56\00:31:09.46
image, and whoever receives the
mark of his name.' Here is the
00:31:09.50\00:31:12.33
patience of the saints.
00:31:12.37\00:31:14.04
Here are those who keep
the commandments of God and the
00:31:14.07\00:31:15.77
faith of Jesus."
00:31:15.80\00:31:17.74
Is this the description, right
here that I just read, is this
00:31:17.77\00:31:20.51
the description of a
normal day-to-day event?
00:31:20.54\00:31:23.48
As a life just back to normal?
00:31:23.51\00:31:26.88
Life as always?
00:31:26.92\00:31:28.45
A walk in the park?
00:31:28.48\00:31:30.12
Something that can be just
neglected and not considered
00:31:30.15\00:31:33.05
as relevant?
00:31:33.09\00:31:34.39
Or is this the description of
urgency of a crisis, one that we
00:31:34.42\00:31:41.13
can participate in being
instruments of salvation?
00:31:41.16\00:31:47.74
That's why this precedes--in the
lesson, I love the structure of
00:31:47.77\00:31:50.77
this week's lesson because this
right here precedes the next
00:31:50.81\00:31:54.08
topic, which is "Rest in Peace."
00:31:54.11\00:31:55.64
Only then can we understand this
part: Throughout centuries, the
00:31:55.68\00:32:00.05
followers of Jesus have awaited
his return as the flame that
00:32:00.08\00:32:03.75
burns in their hearts and as the
final resolution of this great
00:32:03.79\00:32:07.22
drama of the great controversy.
00:32:07.26\00:32:09.26
For centuries we've
been waiting for this.
00:32:09.29\00:32:10.93
We talk about it.
We preach about it.
00:32:10.96\00:32:12.29
We pray about
it. We read about it.
00:32:12.33\00:32:14.03
We study about it.
00:32:14.10\00:32:15.46
My dad--I'm a third
generation Adventist.
00:32:15.50\00:32:18.13
My dad was
believing this 50 years ago.
00:32:18.17\00:32:22.10
My grandpa--this has
been taught for centuries.
00:32:22.14\00:32:30.78
This is the culmination of
history, the fulfillment of the
00:32:30.81\00:32:34.25
glorious hope.
00:32:34.28\00:32:35.68
Now, here's the thing:
This hope, it's not only ours.
00:32:35.72\00:32:38.39
It's not only yours.
00:32:38.42\00:32:39.79
You know who this
hope belongs to the most?
00:32:39.82\00:32:42.22
God.
00:32:42.26\00:32:44.66
God wants this thing to end just
as much or more--of course, more
00:32:44.69\00:32:48.06
than you do.
00:32:48.10\00:32:49.90
God wants to turn the
page more than anyone else.
00:32:49.93\00:32:53.07
He wants to do away with this
evil that installed itself into
00:32:53.10\00:32:56.34
His universe and, in
particular, to our world.
00:32:56.37\00:33:00.14
Friends, the Second Coming of
Jesus is God's final answer to
00:33:00.18\00:33:02.41
the problem of death.
00:33:02.44\00:33:04.11
This lesson on Wednesday makes
a connection between the idea of
00:33:04.15\00:33:07.12
the eternal Gospel, the three
angels' message, and one of the
00:33:07.15\00:33:10.52
great truths that has
been obscured and buried by the
00:33:10.55\00:33:13.99
enemy's work of deception,
which is the state of the dead.
00:33:14.02\00:33:19.09
The main text used here for the
transition is Hebrews 11:13-16,
00:33:19.13\00:33:22.90
that says, "These all died in
faith, not having received the
00:33:22.93\00:33:26.00
promises, but having seen them
from afar--" they were witnesses
00:33:26.03\00:33:29.64
from far off-- "were assured
of them, embraced them and
00:33:29.67\00:33:33.68
confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on earth.
00:33:33.71\00:33:36.38
For those who say such things
declare plainly that they seek a
00:33:36.41\00:33:39.71
homeland.
00:33:39.75\00:33:41.15
And truly if they had called
to mind that country from which
00:33:41.18\00:33:44.15
they had come out, they would
have had opportunity to return.
00:33:44.19\00:33:47.89
But now they desire a better,
that is, a heavenly country.
00:33:47.92\00:33:51.36
Therefore God is not ashamed to
be called their God, for He has
00:33:51.39\00:33:53.83
prepared a city for them."
00:33:53.86\00:33:55.20
Friends, we frequently
see tombstones that have that
00:33:55.23\00:33:58.07
classic saying, "Rest in peace."
00:33:58.10\00:34:03.30
After all, the
paradox is very evident.
00:34:03.34\00:34:06.74
Are the dead truly resting
in peace in the grave, awaiting
00:34:06.78\00:34:10.48
Christ's return
for the resurrection?
00:34:10.51\00:34:12.91
Or are they in heaven already
or in hell already as is usually
00:34:12.95\00:34:17.25
preached by many
in the world today?
00:34:17.29\00:34:22.52
You know, friends, it was pagan
beliefs that introduced the idea
00:34:22.56\00:34:25.19
that the dead in death don't
truly die, and that clearly
00:34:25.23\00:34:29.83
denies any kind
of biblical teaching.
00:34:29.86\00:34:32.20
Otherwise, you wouldn't really
have true death, would you?
00:34:32.23\00:34:34.47
Think about it: If you go
to hell right after you die, I
00:34:34.50\00:34:39.17
mean, you're just talking about
eternal life in hell, right?
00:34:39.21\00:34:44.11
In that case, you're not talking
about death but eternal life in
00:34:44.15\00:34:46.38
hell or eternal life in heaven
or a period of life in purgatory
00:34:46.41\00:34:51.65
if you go through some
other options out there.
00:34:51.69\00:34:55.72
But in the Bible, the dead
are truly resting, awaiting the
00:34:55.76\00:34:59.19
perfect morning when the
dead in Him will rise first.
00:34:59.23\00:35:03.57
The beautiful text of Psalm
116:15, provides comfort to
00:35:03.60\00:35:07.80
those who will wait to see their
loved ones, those who have had
00:35:07.84\00:35:10.57
their loved ones stolen from
them, taken from them, by the
00:35:10.61\00:35:13.14
sleep of death.
00:35:13.17\00:35:14.64
Psalm 116:15, says, "Precious
in the sight of the Lord is the
00:35:14.68\00:35:18.15
death of His saints."
00:35:18.18\00:35:20.12
How can you say
"precious is the death"?
00:35:20.15\00:35:23.02
Only in God.
00:35:23.05\00:35:25.29
The same thing in Revelation,
"Blessed are they who have from
00:35:25.32\00:35:28.32
now died in the Lord."
00:35:28.36\00:35:31.06
How can you be
blessed when you die?
00:35:31.09\00:35:33.46
Only in God because we find the
truth in John chapter 11, if I'm
00:35:33.50\00:35:37.87
not mistaken, the story
of Lazarus, what Jesus tells
00:35:37.90\00:35:42.24
Martha, "If you believe in
Me, you will have eternal life.
00:35:42.27\00:35:47.78
You will never die."
00:35:47.81\00:35:49.64
Even those who die will not die.
00:35:49.68\00:35:51.45
What kind of logic is that?
00:35:51.48\00:35:54.12
It's only the logic
that comes from God.
00:35:54.15\00:35:56.82
Friends, our hope regarding
the resurrection is based on the
00:35:56.85\00:36:00.16
Resurrection of Jesus himself.
00:36:00.19\00:36:02.29
His Resurrection is,
first of all, central.
00:36:02.32\00:36:04.46
Without it, everything else
would be darkness and death.
00:36:04.49\00:36:07.86
Despair would have the final
word, and the proclamation of
00:36:07.93\00:36:10.77
the Gospel would be madness.
00:36:10.80\00:36:12.93
Without the Resurrection
of Jesus, it would be madness.
00:36:12.97\00:36:16.14
So it's central.
00:36:16.17\00:36:17.57
Second, it's comforting.
00:36:17.61\00:36:19.21
The Resurrection of
Jesus is comforting.
00:36:19.24\00:36:21.01
Without it, the presence of
death, in the presence of death,
00:36:21.04\00:36:23.71
we would see no meaning.
00:36:23.75\00:36:26.65
The apostle Paul affirms
that Jesus is the firstfruits of
00:36:26.68\00:36:29.95
those who have fallen asleep.
00:36:29.98\00:36:32.22
That's in 1 Corinthians 15.
00:36:32.25\00:36:33.76
He is the pledge of all who
sleep in Him, the certainty of
00:36:33.79\00:36:36.86
our trust.
00:36:36.89\00:36:38.19
He is the refuge
and the fortress.
00:36:38.23\00:36:40.26
"Because I live, you will
live also," Jesus says, in John
00:36:40.30\00:36:42.83
chapter 14.
00:36:42.86\00:36:44.70
"Because I live,
you will live also."
00:36:44.73\00:36:49.17
So it's central, it's
comforting, and it means power.
00:36:49.20\00:36:53.21
It was the Resurrection of Jesus
that drove, that gave that first
00:36:53.24\00:36:55.81
impulse of the apostles to leave
Jerusalem and to go to the end
00:36:55.84\00:36:59.15
of the world.
00:36:59.18\00:37:00.72
It's powerful.
00:37:00.75\00:37:02.48
Preaching the death and
the Resurrection of Jesus is
00:37:02.52\00:37:03.95
powerful.
00:37:03.99\00:37:06.22
It constitutes a challenge.
00:37:06.25\00:37:08.29
It's central, it's comforting,
it's powerful, and it
00:37:08.32\00:37:10.83
constitutes a challenge.
00:37:10.86\00:37:12.56
It gives us the task
of telling the story.
00:37:12.59\00:37:15.43
This glorious event needs
to awaken us, and it needs to
00:37:15.46\00:37:19.53
awaken the sense of urgency and
sharing with others this living
00:37:19.57\00:37:23.30
hope that we possess.
00:37:23.34\00:37:25.04
Look at the comfort that we
have since we know about Jesus's
00:37:25.07\00:37:28.08
Resurrection.
00:37:28.11\00:37:31.05
And, finally, Thursday's lesson,
"Rejoice in the Lord Always."
00:37:31.08\00:37:34.98
I love this one.
00:37:35.02\00:37:36.52
One of the most recurrent
exhortations that we'll find in
00:37:36.55\00:37:39.15
the Bible is the one to rejoice
in God, to be grateful, to live
00:37:39.19\00:37:42.62
an attitude of gratitude.
00:37:42.66\00:37:45.86
An attitude of gratitude.
00:37:45.89\00:37:47.73
Philippians 4:4-6, says,
"Rejoice in the Lord always.
00:37:47.76\00:37:50.33
Again, I will say, rejoice.
00:37:50.37\00:37:52.33
Let your gentleness
be known to all men.
00:37:52.37\00:37:54.67
The Lord is at hand.
00:37:54.70\00:37:56.44
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and
00:37:56.47\00:37:58.77
supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known
00:37:58.81\00:38:02.38
to God."
00:38:02.41\00:38:03.91
Friends, what Paul is telling us
here is to always rejoice in the
00:38:03.95\00:38:06.58
Lord.
00:38:06.61\00:38:09.22
In tribulations and trials,
despite of the circumstances
00:38:09.25\00:38:11.35
that surround us during our
pilgrimage, we have to rejoice.
00:38:11.39\00:38:13.99
Now, that's a hard teaching.
00:38:14.02\00:38:15.59
How do I rejoice?
00:38:15.62\00:38:18.29
How do I rejoice
when bad things happen?
00:38:18.33\00:38:20.70
When relationships break, when
I'm betrayed, when I am hurt,
00:38:20.73\00:38:26.40
how do I rejoice?
00:38:26.43\00:38:28.40
Is God speaking
about a form of masochism?
00:38:28.44\00:38:30.97
"Thank you. I'm hurting.
00:38:31.01\00:38:32.31
Thank you. I love it."
00:38:32.34\00:38:33.68
No, the Bible does never tell
us to rejoice or to give thanks
00:38:33.71\00:38:38.85
for all things.
00:38:38.88\00:38:40.65
You know what
the Bible tells us?
00:38:40.68\00:38:41.92
To "Give thanks in all things,
for that as the will of Jesus
00:38:41.95\00:38:45.29
Christ," of God and Jesus.
00:38:45.32\00:38:48.26
It's not for the things that
happen, but you can rejoice in
00:38:48.29\00:38:50.93
the Lord always, and, again, say
rejoice, even in the worst, most
00:38:50.96\00:38:54.56
harrowing experiences of life.
00:38:54.56\00:38:57.80
You know, according
to psychologists and to
00:38:57.83\00:38:59.73
psychiatrists, anxiety is
the great evil that plagues our
00:38:59.77\00:39:02.37
society today.
00:39:02.40\00:39:03.84
It's taking the
place of depression, even.
00:39:03.87\00:39:07.81
After all, depression is always
preceded, always preceded by
00:39:07.84\00:39:13.28
anxiety.
00:39:13.31\00:39:16.15
In this text in Philippians, the
apostle is exhorting us, telling
00:39:16.18\00:39:20.02
us to rest in God.
00:39:20.06\00:39:22.39
Friends, "Where God leads,
He provides," says this old
00:39:22.42\00:39:25.13
proverb.
00:39:25.16\00:39:26.46
His goodness, His love, His
mercy, are infallible anchors,
00:39:26.49\00:39:29.76
and once I reflect these things,
once I dwell on these things,
00:39:29.80\00:39:34.90
well, it's kind
of hard to be sad.
00:39:34.94\00:39:36.71
It's hard to be in darkness if
there's light around you, right?
00:39:36.74\00:39:40.41
It's hard to be sad when
you surround yourself and fill
00:39:40.44\00:39:42.54
yourself with
the joy of the Lord.
00:39:42.58\00:39:44.55
David was able to do it.
00:39:44.58\00:39:46.82
So can we.
00:39:46.85\00:39:50.25
Psalm 23, known as the gem, the
gem of the Psalms, reveals that
00:39:50.29\00:39:57.63
our path is always in His
presence, that the great God can
00:39:57.66\00:40:01.13
never be surprised.
00:40:01.16\00:40:02.50
He's never helpless
to come to our need.
00:40:02.53\00:40:04.00
You know, friends, Psalm 23, is
known as the nightingale of the
00:40:04.03\00:40:07.80
Psalms.
00:40:07.84\00:40:09.64
Why?
00:40:09.67\00:40:11.04
It's a very common
bird in South America.
00:40:11.07\00:40:13.31
It's able to sing in more than
30 different tones and keys.
00:40:13.34\00:40:17.45
It also sings during the
night where there's no more heat
00:40:17.48\00:40:21.45
or light.
00:40:21.48\00:40:23.85
It's said that its ballad is
always a prelude, an invitation
00:40:23.89\00:40:27.72
to celebrate the dawn.
00:40:27.76\00:40:31.46
What a powerful symbol for the
divine comfort that we have in
00:40:31.49\00:40:34.20
God.
00:40:34.23\00:40:35.90
Psalm 23, in Psalm 23, Jesus is
introduced as the shepherd, the
00:40:35.93\00:40:39.77
guide, and the host.
00:40:39.80\00:40:41.34
As the shepherd, He provides, as
the guide, He leads, and as the
00:40:41.37\00:40:45.17
host, He prepares a
table in front of our enemies.
00:40:45.21\00:40:50.88
And, friends, He continues
to prepare a table in the front
00:40:50.91\00:40:54.65
of our enemies.
00:40:54.68\00:40:59.62
You know, I'll end with this:
One of my favorite realities of
00:40:59.65\00:41:08.06
Psalm 23, is that Psalm 23 is
a perfect lesson on how to rest,
00:41:08.10\00:41:17.41
how to truly find
the ultimate rest.
00:41:17.44\00:41:20.61
In Psalm 23, you see a shift
a little bit in the literature.
00:41:20.64\00:41:26.18
Look at what it says, right?
00:41:26.21\00:41:27.68
Psalm 23, it says,
"The Lord is my shepherd.
00:41:27.72\00:41:31.09
I shall not want.
00:41:31.12\00:41:32.55
He makes me to lie
down in green pastures.
00:41:32.59\00:41:35.29
He leads me
beside the still waters.
00:41:35.32\00:41:37.66
He restores my soul.
00:41:37.69\00:41:39.23
He leads me in the
paths of righteousness
00:41:39.26\00:41:41.26
for His name's sake."
00:41:41.30\00:41:42.66
You see how the
psalmist is referring to God?
00:41:42.70\00:41:44.83
These are all good events.
00:41:44.87\00:41:46.17
God is leading
him and guiding him.
00:41:46.20\00:41:47.80
Life is good and marvelous.
It's sunshines and roses.
00:41:47.84\00:41:51.74
You know, "He's leading
me towards still waters.
00:41:51.77\00:41:54.74
He restores my soul.
00:41:54.78\00:41:56.85
He leads me in
paths of righteousness."
00:41:56.88\00:41:59.08
Do you see how
things here are comfortable?
00:41:59.11\00:42:01.18
At this point of the
psalm, things are good, and he's
00:42:01.22\00:42:03.59
talking about God in the
third person: "He leads me,
00:42:03.62\00:42:06.69
He takes me, He calls me."
00:42:06.72\00:42:08.66
He, He, He.
00:42:08.69\00:42:10.09
But when things get hard, when
things get dark, he changes the
00:42:10.13\00:42:15.53
way that he refers to God: "Yea,
though I walk through the valley
00:42:15.56\00:42:20.34
of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil, for--" "He is with
00:42:20.37\00:42:25.31
me" or "for You are with me"?
00:42:25.34\00:42:27.91
"For You are with me."
00:42:27.94\00:42:29.44
It becomes more personal.
00:42:29.48\00:42:31.11
"For You are with me.
00:42:31.15\00:42:36.08
Your rod and Your
staff, they comfort me.
00:42:36.12\00:42:38.39
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
00:42:38.42\00:42:41.16
You anoint my head with oil.
00:42:41.19\00:42:42.92
My cup runs over.
00:42:42.96\00:42:44.39
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my
00:42:44.43\00:42:47.56
life, and I will dwell in
the house of the Lord forever."
00:42:47.60\00:42:50.93
When things get
tough, God gets closer.
00:42:50.97\00:42:55.60
That's how you rest.
00:42:55.64\00:42:57.51
That is the ultimate rest.
00:42:57.54\00:42:59.91
When things get
tough, God gets closer.
00:42:59.94\00:43:04.85
My dear friend, I
invite you to rest in God.
00:43:04.88\00:43:09.48
Rest in the Shepherd, He who
is the pastor of the stars, who
00:43:09.52\00:43:14.69
sustains the worlds by the
breadth of His hand, who has
00:43:14.72\00:43:19.39
become personally
responsible for you and for me.
00:43:19.43\00:43:22.30
He invites us today and always
to find rest, perfect, complete,
00:43:22.33\00:43:30.21
comforting rest amidst
the trials, amidst the storms,
00:43:30.24\00:43:36.11
amidst the hurricanes of life.
00:43:36.14\00:43:39.11
Christians don't dwell
in a land without storms.
00:43:39.15\00:43:43.82
Christians don't have houses
in stormless lands, but with the
00:43:43.85\00:43:47.39
God that we have, we are invited
to dwell in a land that has
00:43:47.42\00:43:52.46
storms that can never knock down
our house that God has built up.
00:43:52.49\00:43:59.10
May God bless you.
00:43:59.13\00:44:00.50
I'd like to pray
with you right now.
00:44:00.54\00:44:02.00
Please bow your heads.
00:44:02.04\00:44:03.44
Dear Lord, thank You
so much for this lesson.
00:44:03.47\00:44:05.14
That was such a great
inspiration on the reality that
00:44:05.17\00:44:08.31
we need to rest in You, Father.
00:44:08.34\00:44:10.58
Thank you so much for providing
in Your Word, in the Bible, such
00:44:10.61\00:44:13.72
a beautiful understanding of
the fact that we need to find
00:44:13.75\00:44:17.39
ultimate rest in You.
00:44:17.42\00:44:19.72
Thank You, Lord, for the various
aspects of rest that we've
00:44:19.75\00:44:21.79
studied, but ultimately, Lord,
help us understand that, when
00:44:21.82\00:44:24.59
things get tough, You get
closer, and that is the only way
00:44:24.63\00:44:27.86
that we truly rest
of having You close by.
00:44:27.86\00:44:31.63
Father, we want
to hold on to You.
00:44:31.67\00:44:33.13
We want to hug You all the
days of our life, and we want to
00:44:33.17\00:44:35.87
dwell in Your house forever.
00:44:35.90\00:44:39.01
Bless this church, Lord.
00:44:39.04\00:44:40.51
Bless not only the local church
here of Granite Bay, but bless
00:44:40.54\00:44:43.95
the worldwide church.
00:44:43.98\00:44:45.61
Allow us to dwell on this land.
00:44:45.65\00:44:47.18
Allow us to understand the
moment in time that we live in,
00:44:47.22\00:44:49.42
allow us to understand that You
are instructing and guiding us
00:44:49.45\00:44:52.65
to be instruments.
00:44:52.69\00:44:55.32
We are under marching orders.
00:44:55.36\00:44:58.23
And, finally, Father, allow us
to dwell in this land of storms
00:44:58.26\00:45:01.90
but with our
eyes in heaven on you.
00:45:01.93\00:45:05.87
I thank you, and I asked
you these things in the name of
00:45:05.90\00:45:08.87
Jesus Christ, amen and amen.
00:45:08.90\00:45:11.84
May God bless you,
and have a happy Sabbath.
00:45:11.87\00:45:13.94
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's life-changing
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free resource.
00:45:18.81\00:45:20.48
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important to
share it with others.
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¤¤¤
00:45:52.15\00:45:54.48
announcer: "Amazing
Facts Changed Lives."
00:45:54.52\00:45:58.89
¤¤¤
00:45:58.92\00:46:02.92
Nita: I'm Tlingit
Indian from Sitka, Alaska.
00:46:02.96\00:46:06.93
My Tlingit name
is Wishdashdiclaw.
00:46:06.96\00:46:10.17
It was a very depressing
time for the people of Alaska.
00:46:10.20\00:46:13.84
A lot of alcohol
abuse was taking place.
00:46:13.87\00:46:19.74
And, unfortunately, my mother
got caught up in the alcohol.
00:46:19.77\00:46:25.51
It made myself and my siblings
grow up in a pretty horrible
00:46:25.55\00:46:35.29
environment.
00:46:35.32\00:46:37.06
It was really
hard to understand God.
00:46:37.09\00:46:41.76
It was really hard to
understand what love was.
00:46:41.80\00:46:45.80
I ended up having a child in my
12th grade and leaving home when
00:46:45.83\00:46:55.34
I was 15 years old, but
somehow, someway, we made it,
00:46:55.38\00:47:00.62
and I became a loner.
00:47:00.65\00:47:02.38
I became a hermit.
00:47:02.42\00:47:03.85
So I went up to the biggest
marijuana county, to Humboldt
00:47:03.89\00:47:08.42
County, and
started my new career.
00:47:08.46\00:47:13.23
Things weren't right though.
00:47:13.26\00:47:14.93
No matter how nice I kept
thinking life was, living up on
00:47:14.93\00:47:18.63
top of the mountain, not having
to worry about wearing clothing,
00:47:18.67\00:47:25.61
just waking up and watching the
plants grow, searching still,
00:47:25.64\00:47:30.38
for more and more, I went to the
post office, and I was standing
00:47:30.41\00:47:37.22
there by myself.
00:47:37.25\00:47:39.19
I looked down, and here was
this--what is called handbill, a
00:47:39.22\00:47:43.86
postcard, and the letters on
it grabbed my attention, and it
00:47:43.89\00:47:48.66
said, Revelations.
00:47:48.70\00:47:51.43
I'd never heard Revelation
taught before, and I thought,
00:47:51.47\00:47:54.57
"Gosh, that
would've been so good."
00:47:54.60\00:47:57.94
I looked at the time and the
day, and I said, "Wow, that's
00:47:57.97\00:48:02.91
today."
00:48:02.94\00:48:04.95
And for six weeks, I sat
there in the front seat of that
00:48:04.98\00:48:10.79
building and could not
believe the things that I heard.
00:48:10.82\00:48:17.09
And I found this hunger that
I had in my heart for decades,
00:48:17.13\00:48:22.90
being filled.
00:48:22.93\00:48:24.40
I was actually like a starving
child, you know, wanting to get
00:48:24.43\00:48:28.70
in to learn more
about Revelations.
00:48:28.74\00:48:31.54
And I chose to be
baptized on April 3.
00:48:31.57\00:48:37.85
Even though I chose to
serve God, I kept falling.
00:48:37.88\00:48:42.52
I was going to Bible studies
all--four times a week and,
00:48:42.55\00:48:47.82
just, so hungry to
learn as much as possible.
00:48:47.86\00:48:52.49
God, just, overnight had me
studying the Word of God through
00:48:52.53\00:48:57.67
AFCOE, and the miracles
that happened through AFCOE
00:48:57.70\00:49:02.04
is so incredible.
00:49:02.07\00:49:04.34
The only preacher I was
listening to was Pastor Doug
00:49:04.37\00:49:07.18
Batchelor, who I
didn't even call by his name.
00:49:07.21\00:49:11.05
I called him "the caveman."
00:49:11.08\00:49:13.52
And then here, all of a sudden,
I'm sitting in front of him in
00:49:13.55\00:49:18.52
his classroom,
learning from him.
00:49:18.55\00:49:22.89
On October 11, I sat there,
though, in my room, saying,
00:49:22.92\00:49:28.03
"Lord, here I am, studying Your
Word, but what am I doing here?
00:49:28.06\00:49:35.60
What do I need to do?
00:49:35.64\00:49:38.04
What is it You want me to do?"
00:49:38.07\00:49:40.14
And that night, about 1 in the
morning, God spoke to me, and He
00:49:40.18\00:49:44.21
said, "I want you to write a
note to Pastor Doug and tell him
00:49:44.25\00:49:48.42
what you do."
00:49:48.45\00:49:49.88
I sat there, and I says,
"No, I'm not going to write it.
00:49:49.92\00:49:51.45
I'm not going to write a note."
00:49:51.49\00:49:53.29
And I said, "Okay," so I ripped
off a piece of paper, and I
00:49:53.32\00:49:56.73
wrote on the note, and I said,
"I'm an experienced fashion
00:49:56.76\00:50:00.00
designer.
00:50:00.03\00:50:01.70
I can sew anything.
00:50:01.73\00:50:03.33
I can make any patterns.
00:50:03.37\00:50:04.77
If there's any way that I can be
of any service to you, God told
00:50:04.80\00:50:09.64
me to be bold and tell you."
00:50:09.67\00:50:11.61
And I walked up, and I handled
him the note, and he didn't know
00:50:11.64\00:50:14.44
what it was, but he said, "Thank
you," and four hours later,
00:50:14.48\00:50:17.28
I got a phone call
from Amazing Facts.
00:50:17.31\00:50:20.95
Pastor Doug told me that I
was an answer to their prayers.
00:50:20.98\00:50:24.79
They had been looking for a
wardrobe stylist for their new
00:50:24.82\00:50:28.82
film that they're producing.
00:50:28.86\00:50:30.99
female: Action. Two, three--
00:50:31.03\00:50:35.10
Nita: Amazing Facts has
changed my life in the direction
00:50:35.13\00:50:38.73
that God wants me to go.
00:50:38.77\00:50:42.04
And now, out of all the
knowledge that was taught to me,
00:50:42.07\00:50:46.74
I'm able to go out into this
world and share the Gospel and
00:50:46.78\00:50:51.81
finish the work
for Jesus Christ.
00:50:51.85\00:50:55.32
Doug Batchelor: Friends, it's
because of God's blessing and
00:50:56.55\00:50:58.82
your support that thousands
of others like Nita, have found
00:50:58.85\00:51:02.36
Jesus and everlasting life.
00:51:02.39\00:51:05.83
¤¤¤
00:51:05.86\00:51:15.80
¤¤¤
00:51:15.84\00:51:18.74
announcer: "Amazing
Facts Changed Lives."
00:51:18.77\00:51:21.88
¤¤¤
00:51:21.91\00:51:27.78
Jason: We were going to
church every other week.
00:51:27.82\00:51:30.42
About 19 years old, things
really started to make sense
00:51:30.45\00:51:33.15
for me.
00:51:33.19\00:51:34.49
I started to go to church for
myself, and the pastor wanted to
00:51:34.52\00:51:37.59
study with me.
00:51:37.63\00:51:38.93
Well, we came to this study
about baptism, and I kind of
00:51:38.96\00:51:42.40
just shrugged, looked,
put my head down, and I said,
00:51:42.43\00:51:44.43
"I'm not ready."
00:51:44.47\00:51:45.83
He looked me in the eye
and said, "Jason, you'll never
00:51:45.87\00:51:50.34
make yourself ready.
00:51:50.37\00:51:52.84
This is
something you have to do."
00:51:52.87\00:51:55.54
I put a lot of things behind me.
00:51:55.58\00:51:56.98
The drinking and smoking
and all that stuff stopped.
00:51:57.01\00:51:59.05
All throughout the time, well,
I've been learning about God.
00:51:59.08\00:52:02.05
It was just me and God.
00:52:02.08\00:52:04.35
It comes around up to about
August, and I meet this girl.
00:52:04.39\00:52:09.36
I'm about two
years in a relationship.
00:52:09.39\00:52:11.39
We're talking about
marriage and everything.
00:52:11.43\00:52:13.06
We didn't pray. We
didn't study together.
00:52:13.09\00:52:16.36
We were arguing a
lot, but we were engaged.
00:52:16.40\00:52:21.84
I started drinking again, and
that was a slow downward spiral
00:52:21.87\00:52:25.57
in the different things, and my
devotional life started, really
00:52:25.61\00:52:28.24
weaseling away.
00:52:28.28\00:52:29.98
We broke up in 2008.
00:52:30.01\00:52:31.68
It was heavy for me because,
again, being with somebody for
00:52:31.71\00:52:34.35
that long, it's
almost like a divorce.
00:52:34.38\00:52:39.55
I started to fall
back away even more.
00:52:39.59\00:52:42.62
I remember looking in the
mirror, just looking at myself
00:52:42.66\00:52:44.86
and saying, "What are you doing?
00:52:44.89\00:52:46.96
How can you do this to God?
00:52:47.00\00:52:49.26
He's brought you so far."
00:52:49.30\00:52:52.40
And, you know, God
really heard my cry.
00:52:52.43\00:52:55.17
¤¤¤
00:52:55.20\00:52:57.74
Jason: There was a testimony
telling at my church, and there
00:52:57.77\00:53:01.58
was a call, and
kids started getting up.
00:53:01.61\00:53:03.58
A bunch of high school kids
started getting up for calls
00:53:03.61\00:53:04.95
of baptism.
00:53:04.98\00:53:06.82
I'm back doing the PA system
at this time, and I feel, just,
00:53:06.85\00:53:09.25
like this urge.
00:53:09.28\00:53:10.72
Just, my heart just,
like, ripping out of my chest.
00:53:10.75\00:53:13.52
And I just had this
feeling just to go up.
00:53:13.56\00:53:16.22
I get up to the front, and I
meet the pastor with open arms.
00:53:16.26\00:53:22.53
I realized that there is so much
more to life than just living
00:53:22.56\00:53:24.97
life for myself.
00:53:25.00\00:53:26.97
And, you know, falling away,
it's not a necessity, but God
00:53:27.00\00:53:31.91
can work through anything
in the bad to make it the good.
00:53:31.94\00:53:36.11
That's a promise He makes.
00:53:36.14\00:53:38.15
¤¤¤
00:53:38.18\00:53:48.12
announcer: Together, we have
spread the Gospel much farther
00:53:48.16\00:53:51.23
than ever before.
00:53:51.26\00:53:53.19
Thank you for your support.
00:53:53.23\00:53:57.10
¤¤¤
00:54:01.00\00:54:03.44
announcer: "Amazing
Facts Changed Lives."
00:54:03.47\00:54:06.78
¤¤¤
00:54:07.48\00:54:11.91
female: Well, my conversion
story is when I was in the
00:54:11.95\00:54:15.45
Philippines.
00:54:15.48\00:54:17.39
I just graduated as a nurse, and
afterwards, I did not have any
00:54:17.42\00:54:22.12
religion, and one time I found
myself inside a small church,
00:54:22.16\00:54:28.96
Catholic Church in Manila and
before a big cross, and I was
00:54:29.00\00:54:34.90
kneeling before, and I could
hear Jesus telling me to enter
00:54:34.94\00:54:40.18
the convent, save myself
and also my family, and I said,
00:54:40.21\00:54:43.51
"Lord, I would like to
follow You all the way."
00:54:43.55\00:54:47.82
At that point, I seemed to
be happy externally, but because
00:54:47.85\00:54:52.65
inside the convent we don't read
the Bible, we don't study about
00:54:52.69\00:54:56.76
the Word of God, we pray the
rosaries, we also, at the same
00:54:56.79\00:55:01.60
time, study the lives of the
saints and also our founders and
00:55:01.63\00:55:06.37
the encyclicals of the Pope and
the Virgin Mary, and so I do not
00:55:06.40\00:55:11.67
know the truth, and I had
this torture of conscience, the
00:55:11.71\00:55:15.71
guilty feelings that cannot be
resolved, so I will confess to
00:55:15.74\00:55:19.85
the priests in
the confessional box,
00:55:19.88\00:55:21.82
saying, "Father, forgive me.
00:55:21.85\00:55:24.92
Since my last confession was
last week, since then, I have
00:55:24.95\00:55:28.86
committed the following sin,
including the root cause, why am
00:55:28.89\00:55:32.59
I falling and falling in that
same sin over and over again?"
00:55:32.63\00:55:38.03
And still, for 21 long years,
I struggle and I struggle,
00:55:38.07\00:55:42.87
and I struggle.
00:55:42.90\00:55:45.21
I realized that I
was totally empty.
00:55:45.24\00:55:48.68
I was totally helpless and
hopeless and so depressed and so
00:55:48.71\00:55:52.25
desperate that I would
like already to end my life.
00:55:52.28\00:55:58.02
I was working for five years
as dean of the University of San
00:55:58.05\00:56:01.62
Agustin College of Nursing in
Iloilo City, one of the islands
00:56:01.66\00:56:07.13
in the Philippines.
00:56:07.13\00:56:09.03
After five years, I received
a commission from my parents to
00:56:09.06\00:56:14.30
help my sister who was
being a battered woman.
00:56:14.34\00:56:18.54
This is one of the reasons why
I came over to United States.
00:56:18.57\00:56:23.95
It is because my
sister needs my help.
00:56:23.98\00:56:27.55
As I was working in the hospital
in New York, my boss, Serafin,
00:56:27.58\00:56:31.62
he was so gracious enough
to give me an invitation to the
00:56:31.65\00:56:35.62
"Millennium Prophecy."
00:56:35.66\00:56:37.43
As I was listening to Pastor
Doug Batchelor's presentation,
00:56:37.46\00:56:41.53
my heart really was beating so
fast, and my mind--I'm able to
00:56:41.56\00:56:46.33
grasp the truth that this is the
truth that I've been longing to
00:56:46.37\00:56:53.07
hear all my life that I
have been seeking for so long.
00:56:53.11\00:56:58.51
My personal relationship with
Jesus, I can see Jesus as my
00:56:58.55\00:57:03.32
personal Savior.
00:57:03.35\00:57:05.35
He is not only the Savior of
the whole world, but He is my
00:57:05.39\00:57:09.29
personal Savior.
00:57:09.32\00:57:11.36
He was the one who delivered me
mightily from the depths of sin
00:57:11.39\00:57:17.10
from the miry clay.
00:57:17.13\00:57:18.87
Pastor Doug Batchelor has
been used by the Lord in my
00:57:18.90\00:57:22.57
conversion.
00:57:22.60\00:57:24.54
The Amazing
Facts, I owe to them.
00:57:24.57\00:57:27.84
The Lord really blessed this
ministry, and I'm so proud that
00:57:27.88\00:57:32.81
I was able to attend
this "Millennium Prophecy."
00:57:32.85\00:57:36.25
My life has never been the same.
00:57:36.28\00:57:39.22
It has given me that peace,
the joy that never--I have never
00:57:39.25\00:57:45.56
tasted in my life, and now I'm
set free to be able to work for
00:57:45.59\00:57:50.83
Him and to follow Him.
00:57:50.87\00:57:53.64
¤¤¤
00:57:53.67\00:57:57.81